Obama (and GOP) face tough call on Susan Rice

Nov. 29, 2012
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Susan Rice / Bebeto Matthews, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

Nomination battles aren't that unusual in these polarized political times.

It is, however, unusual to have a battle before there's even a nomination.

It may not seem like it, but President Obama has not tapped Susan Rice to be secretary of State, because currently Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton has not formally announced her retirement.

Yet at least four Senate Republicans have signaled opposition to Rice, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, because of her comments after the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

With Clinton expected to retire soon, Obama -- who praised Rice on Wednesday as "extraordinary" -- faces a tough choice.

The president can more than likely win confirmation for Rice; the Senate Democratic caucus will outnumber the Republicans 55-45 in the next Senate.

But does he want to risk even more enmity with congressional Republicans? Especially with tough decisions coming up on the budget and immigration?

Obama could go with a "safe" pick for the State Department -- say, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., a near-lock for confirmation by his Senate colleagues. But then the president risks criticism from liberal supporters who might say he caved to Republican pressure.

Of course, Republicans face risks as well.

The only way they could stop Rice is through a filibuster or a hold on her nomination. Are they willing to employ such extraordinary action for such a high-level appointee? Especially if the nominee is an African-American woman, given their problems with women and minorities in recent elections?

The main GOP complaint is that Rice initially attributed the Benghazi attacks to a protest of an anti-Islam video that got out of hand -- later, she and other officials cited a pre-planned terrorist attack that led to the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

Rice, who gave five television interviews five days after the attacks, said she relied on intelligence talking points that turned out to be inaccurate. That's the message she delivered in meetings with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Republicans, but if anything that has intensified their criticism of Rice.

Asked about GOP attacks, White House spokesman Jay Carney said: "The obsessive focus on Ambassador Rice's appearance on a series of Sunday shows several months ago is misplaced and misguided."

As for the prospect of a Rice nomination, Carney said: "The president has not made any personnel decisions that I can announce."

With the dispute reaching fever pitch, it seems like a good time for Obama to announce whether or not he will in fact nominate Rice -- though Clinton, the current secretary of State, has to make her move first.